M J Nolan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

We are all too painfully aware of the international downturn and the effect it is having on our economy. That is also reflected in the figures published today in respect of unemployment levels. I am particularly concerned about the large number of male employees who have lost their jobs and continue to do so. I wish the Minister every success in her programme for next year, which probably must continue into the following year. This tries to help the group she identified, the 18 to 25 year age group who have found themselves without jobs.

We must acknowledge the economic challenges that currently face the Government. It is to be welcomed that measures have been taken such as bringing forward the budget by six weeks and increasing the budget for Departments and areas within Departments in order to assist those who have found themselves on the unemployment register.

There will be much focus on the role of FÁS from now on in a way there has not been in the past number of years when we saw significant growth. The agency will find itself the focus of much attention because of the downturn in the economy. Continued provision of a range of training opportunities available to those who lose their jobs in the construction sector is one area that must be tackled. I was pleased to hear the Minister of State, Deputy Billy Kelleher, bring attention to this and include such measures as the offering of a range of specific skills to workers and individual career paths to be developed for redundant workers. In addition, attention must be given to retraining and up-skilling those workers.

There are still many opportunities out there for workers who find themselves unemployed. The provision of retraining opportunites for construction workers in respect of energy efficiency is one area on which I was glad to hear the Minister of State focus. As night follows day we will see an improvement in the world economy and, one hopes, in the Irish economy within the short term. If at that stage we have a re-skilled and up-skilled work force available to take the opportunities this will benefit not only the workers and their families but also the country.

I wish to refer to one area, namely, community enterprise schemes. These have been a great help to individuals who have been on long-term unemployment benefit or assistance and who are doing significant good work in assisting communities, particularly rural communities, in carrying out work which local authorities were not in a position to do. I am glad that the budget for this has been increased and that this work will continue. With rising unemployment levels we should use the opportunity. We should not allow unemployed people walk the streets, particularly young unemployed people. In the 1980s young people who did not emigrate fell into an unhealthy routine of walking the streets, whereas those who took advantage of the education system were in a position to find good employment opportunities when the upturn took place. I encourage the Minister to continue with this approach.

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